Ghostly Holiday (A Harper Harlow Mystery Book 11) Read online

  Jared could picture the sort of proposal Zander would write and he wasn’t about to agree to that offer. “I’ve got it. I know basically what I want to say. I just want it to sound pretty ... and perfect.”

  Zander’s expression softened. “Because she’s pretty and perfect, right?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Good man.” He clapped him on the back and lifted his eyes to the sky as they exited the store. “It feels like snow. I don’t think it will be a big dump — at least not yet — but it’s definitely going to snow tonight.”

  Jared followed his gaze. “I like snow. Maybe I’ll convince Harper to stay at the new house and we can camp out in front of the fireplace. That sounds like a great way to enjoy the first real snow of the year.”

  “No. Harper only has a few nights left in our house. I don’t want you stealing one.”

  Jared bit back a sigh ... barely. “Fine. I won’t steal her just yet. Does that make you happy?”

  “If you wanted to make me happy we would all go in together and buy a castle,” Zander replied without hesitation. “We would live together forever and have a Starbucks attached to a pub right inside the house.”

  Jared didn’t miss a beat. “That’s never going to happen.”

  “Which is why I’m settling for the new arrangement. I ... .” He didn’t get a chance to finish because an ear-splitting scream filled the air, causing both men to snap their heads to the east. “What is that?”

  “Come on,” Jared barked, sliding the ring into his inside pocket and breaking into a run. “Someone is in trouble. We need to help.”

  Two

  Jared found the source of the screaming fairly quickly. It was a woman, and she was standing in front of the town’s lone coffee shop, a bag clutched in her hand. The noises she was making were unintelligible, more guttural cries than anything else. She was so pale he worried she was about to pass out, so he acted instinctively and grabbed her arm.

  “Ma’am, what seems to be the trouble?”

  The woman’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as she slowly shifted them to him. For a brief moment, Jared was convinced she wouldn’t answer. Finally, though, she found her voice. Unfortunately, it was only so she could start screaming.

  “Ma’am!”

  “Her daughter is missing,” another woman supplied as she moved from beneath the awning. “The little girl was inside with her, but she didn’t like the crowd so she went to stand in front of the coffee shop. She’s gone now, though.”

  Jared ran the words, which seemed simple enough, through his head, but remained confused. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “This is Karen Brooks,” Zander supplied, stepping forward. “She’s a teacher at the elementary school.”

  Karen smiled at Zander and offered him a half-salute. “And Zander and I went to high school together.”

  “She once fought with Harper over being class president,” Zander added. “Karen won, and Harper was sad ... although I have no idea why I felt the need to bring that up now.”

  “That makes two of us,” Jared said blandly. “I need to know about the missing girl.” His voice gentled as he turned back to the original woman, who had stopped screaming but was sobbing so hard her body shook. “Ma’am ... .”

  “Ally Bishop,” Karen supplied.

  “What?” Jared was bewildered. “That’s the name of the little girl?”

  “No, that’s her name.” Karen pointed at the red-faced woman. “Her daughter’s name is Zoe Mathers. She’s three.”

  Jared’s stomach twisted, although he couldn’t exactly pinpoint why. “I’m sorry ... she’s three? Why was she outside on her own?”

  Ally’s face was pinched as tears started flowing freely. “I ... could ... see ... her ... through ... the ... window.” The words came out in gusty heaves. “She ... didn’t ... like ... all ... the ... noise. I ... thought ... she ... was ... going ... to ... start ... screaming ... so ... I ... let ... her ... come ... outside. She ... was ... right ... here.”

  Jared blinked several times in rapid succession. The mother was almost a complete loss, which was to be expected, but he needed her to pull it together. Time was of the essence.

  “What about people leaving the coffee shop?” Jared asked, his eyes on Karen rather than Ally. “Did anyone leave the coffee shop in the time Zoe was outside?”

  Karen shrugged. “I don’t know. I wasn’t paying close attention. I do know Zoe was out here. You could see her. She was hopping on the cement and singing a little song. She had her pink coat on, and a matching hat with cat ears. She was adorable.”

  Jared exchanged a quick look with Zander, who seemed out of his element. “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen, Zander is going to call my partner Mel and get him out here. I’m going to start searching the street — including the back alley — and we’re going to find her. She probably just wandered off.”

  “She ... wouldn’t ... do ... that.” Ally’s lower lip trembled so forcefully it made her words hard to understand. “She ... just ... wouldn’t.”

  “We still have to look.” Jared was calm as he met Karen’s gaze. “Take her inside and watch her, if you don’t mind. I’m going to get as many people as I can to start searching. Odds are that Zoe simply saw something that interested her and wandered off. She’s probably not far away.”

  Karen nodded, although she didn’t appear pacified by Jared’s words. “Okay. I’ll do that.” She grabbed Ally’s arm and tugged her toward the door. “Keep us updated.”

  “We will.” Jared was quiet until the two women disappeared inside the coffee shop and then he focused his full attention on Zander. “Call Mel right now and have him get as many people as he can to help with the search. Then start looking yourself ... and make sure you check everywhere. Little kids will climb under things, hide behind things. Leave no stone unturned.”

  “Okay.” For once, Zander didn’t balk at being bossed around. “What aren’t you telling me, though?”

  “What makes you think I’m not telling you something?”

  “Because you’ve got that look. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the same look I get on my face when someone claims the Will & Grace reboot is as good as the first run.”

  “It’s just ... I don’t understand why anyone would let a three-year-old wander aimlessly by herself.”

  “She wasn’t wandering aimlessly. She was standing right in front of the window. That coffee shop is small. It can feel claustrophobic this time of year because it’s always packed with shoppers. I get why the kid wanted some air.”

  “Yeah, but ... .” Jared didn’t give voice to his true fears. “We just need to find her. She can’t have gone far. She’s three, which means she has short legs. Get Mel out here and start looking. Hopefully we’ll find her within twenty minutes. If she gets cold, she may wander out from where she’s hiding on her own.”

  “Good point.”

  THREE HOURS LATER, THERE was still no sign of Zoe Mathers and panic was starting to spread throughout the community. Whisper Cove wasn’t overly large. Given the number of people searching for the little girl, Zoe should’ve been found right away. The fact that she hadn’t filled Jared with dread.

  “Did anyone search the buses at the elementary school?” Mel Kelsey, Jared’s partner and Zander’s uncle, stood in the center of a group of volunteers and marked things off on a list. “Sometimes those doors can be forced open and a little kid would probably enjoy hanging out on a bus.”

  “I’ll go,” a man at the back of the assembled group offered, his hand shooting into the air. “That’s a good idea.”

  “Make sure you get on each bus and look at each seat,” Mel instructed. “If she was tired, she might’ve decided those benches would make for a good nap.”

  “I’ll go with him,” another man offered. “That’s a big job.”

  Mel marked something on his map and focused on Jared as his partner closed the distance. “Anything in the alley b
ehind the market?”

  Jared shook his head. “No. We checked the dumpster, too, just to be certain.”

  “That was probably smart, although I don’t want to think about that.” Mel lowered his voice. “Ally is still inside the coffee shop. She’s surrounded by a bunch of women trying to make her feel better. She’s almost catatonic, though. I’m starting to think we should call a doctor or something.”

  The thought hadn’t occurred to Jared, but now that Mel suggested it, he couldn’t think of a reason not to do just that. “See if they can get someone out here to help us. I’m going to check that store right across the road from the coffee shop.”

  “The guitar store?” Mel furrowed his brow. “I think they would’ve said something if Zoe went in there.”

  “Probably,” Jared agreed. “They have cameras, though.”

  Mel jerked his head in that direction, his eyes lasering in on the telltale dome over the door. “I didn’t even see that. I guess it makes sense because guitars are expensive.”

  “I don’t know that the camera would’ve picked anything up, but it’s a possibility I don’t want to ignore.”

  “No, that’s a good idea.” Mel brightened considerably. “You might even get a direction to focus on, although I’m starting to think the kid isn’t down here.”

  “No.” Jared rubbed his chin as his eyes searched the crowd. “Where is Zander?”

  “He headed toward the lake with Jason Thurman.” Mel was grim. Since Jason and Zander were always at each other’s throats, things had to be serious for them to work together. “They’re checking underneath Jason’s balcony. There’s a lot of stuff stored there for the winter. Also ... they’re going to check the shoreline.”

  Jared read between the lines, understanding what Mel didn’t want to say. If Zoe Mathers was attracted to the water, it was so cold and choppy that she wouldn’t have lasted long. There was every possibility she could’ve washed up on the beach, which was a terrifying thought.

  “What about the state police?” Jared asked after clearing his throat to dislodge the unhappy visual. “Can they get us a dog?”

  “They’re trying. They don’t have any missing person dogs right now, if you can believe that. The only two dogs they have are drug dogs, which isn’t what we need.”

  “No. Definitely not. I ... .” Jared trailed off when he caught sight of a familiar blond head. Harper, Shawn close on her heels, was pushing her way through the crowd. “Hey.” He took a step away from Mel and pulled her in for a quick hug when she reached his side. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Are you kidding?” Harper planted her hands on her hips. “This story is all over the news.” She gestured toward the three local news vans parked along Main Street. “They’ve been doing live reports. A missing little girl right before Christmas is guaranteed to garner great ratings.”

  Jared rubbed his forehead. He’d seen the vans, but he’d been doing his best to ignore them. “Yeah, well ... I need to go across the street. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll catch you up?”

  Harper agreed without hesitation, gesturing for Shawn to follow. “Come on.”

  “Where is Zander?” Shawn called out, drawing Jared’s attention over his shoulder as they crossed toward the guitar shop. “Wasn’t he with you?”

  Harper knit her eyebrows. “Wait ... Zander was with you?”

  Shawn realized his mistake too late to take it back. He was well aware that Zander and Jared went ring shopping together. He was purposely left behind to make sure Harper didn’t wander into town and catch them looking at rings. He wanted to smack himself for letting the shopping excursion slip.

  “I wanted to show Zander something I had my eye on for Christmas,” Jared replied smoothly. “He knows you best, so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a stupid gift. And, before you ask, I’m not telling you what we looked at. It’s a secret.”

  Harper snickered. “I can’t believe you were shopping with Zander. That’s so ... weird.”

  “Yes, well, it’s our first Christmas together. I want to make sure you have the perfect gift.”

  Despite the serious nature of the situation, Harper went warm and gooey all over. “That’s really sweet, but I don’t need a gift. We just bought a house together. That’s more than enough of a gift.”

  “Well, you’re getting a gift, too.” Jared was firm. “As for Zander, he’s with Jason Thurman. They’re searching the beach.”

  Harper didn’t recognize Jared’s heavy tone and made a face. “Why would Zander choose to hang out at the beach instead of helping look for Zoe?”

  “He’s not hanging out at the beach.” Jared chose his words carefully. “He’s looking to make sure that Zoe didn’t end up in the water and wash back to the beach. They’re also checking the area below Jason’s deck. He’s got a lot of outdoor stuff stored there that might interest a kid.”

  “Oh.” Harper was mortified when she realized what Jared was really saying. “That’s ... awful.”

  “It is,” Shawn agreed. “I’m going to help. Hopefully they won’t find anything out there, but you know how Zander gets when he thinks Jason is being annoying.”

  “Yes, he gets even crazier than normal,” Jared said. “I think it’s a good idea that you serve as moderator. I’ll keep Harper with me.”

  “Good luck.”

  Jared opened the door of the guitar store and ushered Harper inside. She greeted the man behind the counter — who looked to be in his late twenties and was sporting some ridiculously long hair that would’ve made eighties rock bands stand up and applaud — with a tight smile. “Hey, Cooper. You haven’t seen a little girl, have you?”

  Cooper shook his head, his eyes reflecting worry as he tuned a guitar. “No. I heard about that and I went looking through the back alley. She’s not there. I would’ve reported it if I saw her.”

  “I know you would have,” Harper said hurriedly. “We’re desperate to find her, though. We have to check everywhere.”

  “I’m actually here because I was hoping I could look at your camera footage,” Jared announced, taking Cooper by surprise. “Does the angle you’ve got it set for hit the front of the coffee shop?”

  Instead of acting as if Jared was putting him out, Cooper shoved the guitar to the side and hopped to his feet. “I didn’t even think about it. I’m so sorry. Come on.” He gestured for Harper and Jared to follow him into the office behind the counter. “I can’t believe I didn’t think about that myself.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Jared offered. “Why would you think of it? It’s just a notion I had. We might not find anything on the camera, but we should at least try.”

  “Definitely. Here.” Cooper turned the monitor so Jared and Harper could see it. “I need to go to the playback option, which is here.” He muttered to himself as he hit a few buttons. “Sorry. I only got this system because it was cheaper to pay for the equipment than my insurance premiums if I didn’t have it.”

  “I didn’t even think about that,” Jared said, his eyes on the screen. “Wait ... slow down. There she is.” He pointed at the tiny girl who hopped out of the coffee shop. She was far enough away that it was difficult to make out her features, but she didn’t seem distressed. In fact, she was clearly laughing as she stomped in a mud puddle right in front of the door.

  “What do you know about her mother?” Jared asked Harper, his eyes never leaving the video footage. “She seemed a righteous mess when I tried to question her earlier. I didn’t have time to mess around, so I just left her in the coffee shop. I’m going to have to question her further if we don’t find Zoe soon, though.”

  “Ally is ... I don’t know what to tell you,” Harper said, holding her hands palms out. “She’s pretty together. She’s not dramatic, keeps to herself. She seems devoted to Zoe. I’ve seen them around town. I wouldn’t say I’m close to Ally, but I honestly think she’s a good person.”

  “What about Zoe’s father?” Jared asked as he leaned forward to th
e screen. Zoe was on camera waving through the window and then she went back to her hopping routine, clearly in her own little world.

  “Zoe’s father is another story,” Harper noted, distaste evident. “He’s a real ... .” She wasn’t sure what word she could use without coming across as insulting.

  “Piece of trash,” Cooper volunteered when she didn’t continue. “Luke Mathers is the biggest piece of trash out there. He’s a terrible human being and Zoe’s better off without him.”

  Jared widened his eyes. “Clearly I’m missing part of the story.”

  “You are,” Harper confirmed, shifting from one foot to the other. “Um ... the thing is, Ally and Luke dated for several months about four and a half years ago. People thought they were a good match even though Luke has a certain reputation as a womanizer.”

  “He’s hit more women than a female boxer,” Cooper muttered, disgusted.

  “He’s a little gross,” Harper acknowledged. “We always assumed that he would get over himself and settle down. A lot of guys are wild in their younger days and turn into perfectly good husbands.”

  “Okay.” Jared felt as if he was walking through quicksand. “What aren’t you saying?”

  “Well, when Ally turned up pregnant, Luke had a bad reaction,” Harper replied. “It wasn’t completely unexpected. Even Ally said she knew he would melt down. She just thought he would step up to the plate after the fact.”

  “And he never did?”

  “No.” Harper’s expression turned sad. “He’s never met Zoe to my knowledge. He doesn’t see her. He signed off on custody in exchange for Ally not going after child support. He completely abandoned Zoe. Ally has been raising her on her own.”

  “And doing a heckuva job of it,” Cooper snapped, vehement. “She’s better off without that loser.”

  “You seem to have some strong feelings on the subject,” Jared noted.

  “I was raised knowing that you take care of your children. You don’t abandon them, no matter what. Luke abandoned Zoe without a backward glance. If you think I’m going to respect that, you’re wrong.”